I'm thinking of all my snowbird friends. What do you suppose the effect of this storm will be on the ICW?
The snowbirders I've heard have already been talking about running outside and these are people who just don't run outside. I don't think we know enough yet. There are three elements. 1-Debris in the ICW. Matthew left a good bit but it was cleared quickly. I see it creating potentially a short delay, but not lengthy. 2-Shoaling and shifting of shoals as well as destruction of markers. Finding the channel may be a challenge, especially at inlets. I see this as potentially a real challenge and I don't know how likely. 3-Marinas. For docking, I see older marinas suffering damage and new ones not as much. Getting to the marinas to do any repairs may be quite delayed. However, it may be a good while before many open simply due to lack of electricity and inability to get there. Duke Energy said it could be weeks before power is restored. Then there's the issue of fuel, both getting it to marinas and the condition of the fuel they have. I would advise anyone to take a test kit to check for water when fueling and I wouldn't want to be the first at a marina. Perhaps after the weekend, we'll have a little better idea. Purely speculative when the storm hasn't even hit land yet.
Many, many people seem to be ducking for cover in Washington DC. But this maybe due another, slightly different, sh!t storm.
Oh, As I stated last year, "The south is full of Canes, Gators, man eating Manatees and red necks. Volcanoes and earthquakes will probably get you before a lightning strike. For your safety, please stay up north and deal with your elected politicians and liberal way of life. Please don't bring your ship down here. Snow Bird (skeet) shooter.
I this is why i love rednecks Seriously... winds never hit 70kts sustained so i doubt nav aids will be a problem. More of the surge happened and is happening in the sounds and rivers as evidence by the coastal tide stations never showing anything over 3' above predictions. That should limit icw issues except maybe around snow's cut which are typical problem spots, along with shallotte and lockswood
Still got my underwater Land Rover and Zodiac from 1962. One of them has an air issue and it ain't the Drover.